Overview of mechatronic design for a weed-management robotic system

This chapter discusses key aspects of a design of a robotic platform for the management of crops in agriculture. In particular, the system considered seeks to address the increasing threat of weed species resistant to herbicide. Many crop production systems in countries such as Australia, have moved onto non-tillage practices in order to reduce loss of soil moisture and soil nutrients to the atmosphere. These crop productions rely mostly on chemical agents as a means of weed management. Such a practice has contributed to the development of weed species for which chemical agents have lost they effectiveness-this is known as weed resistance.